“Total power”: the independence of institutions called into question by Trump

In six months since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has extended the influence of executive power to historically and constitutionally independent institutions, sometimes with the consent with covered words from those which should represent safeguards.

• Read also: Here is what you need to know about the judicial saga of Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, his political repercussions

• Read also: The American Environment Agency removes a quarter of its workforce after Trump cuts

• Read also: Epstein case: Donald Trump attacks the Wall Street Journal for defamation

“Frightening”: this is the word chosen by Barbara Perry, professor of public affairs at the University of Virginia and expert on American presidential history, to summarize with AFP the attitude of Donald Trump vis-à-vis these institutions at the start of the second “total power”: independence institutions called new term.

For Wendy Schiller. Additionally, In addition, professor of political science at Brown University, Donald Trump “wants a total and absolute power” and he “considers no institution of American life as independent of his influence or his authority”.

The congress, with its two rooms with a republican majority, is the main example. Meanwhile, What Donald Trump wants, he gets it.

Almost every elected Republican has followed the President’s orders so far “for fear of seeing his re -election challenged”. For example, explains Barbara Perry.

In front of those who were tempted to deviate from the official line. However, the tenant of the White House thus brandished the threat of supporting more loyal candidates during the primaries – a blow that would be almost fatal for the chances of most outgoing republican parliamentarians.

Holder of the legislative power. the Congress is supposed to be able to act as a counter-power in “total power”: independence institutions called new the face of the president’s executive authority, but Donald Trump “has undermined this fundamental element,” said Barbara Perry.

170 decrees

The 79 -year -old president also often decided to simply do without congresses. preferring to govern with executive decrees, at an unprecedented rate in the history of the American presidency.

In six months. the Republican signed 170 decrees – already than during the entire mandate of his predecessor Joe Biden, according to the American Presidency Project of the University of California in Santa Barbara.

Donald Trump also attacked certain government agencies with the statutes normally guaranteeing independence.

This is the case of the CPSC, responsible for ensuring the safety of consumer products. In May. Donald Trump had dismissed three of his leaders, all appointed by Democratic presidents, out of the five in the agency.

The decision was attacked before the courts and a federal judge suspended him a few weeks “total power”: independence institutions called new later.

Justice thus seems to constitute today one of the last ramparts to this desire by Donald Trump to extend. his authority.

But the ability of federal judges to circumscribe the executive power was greatly handicapped at the end of June by a judgment of the Supreme Court. which prevented them from making decisions in the national reach in most cases.

“The Supreme Court has become a solid ally of executive power,” analyzes Wendy Schiller.

Out of nine judges at the high instance. six are considered to be conservative, and among them, three were appointed by Donald Trump himself during his first mandate.

“Imperial presidency”

The Republican today carries his wrath on another institution: the Fed.

The American central bank sees its independence attacked almost daily in recent weeks by the Republican. who does not appreciate the decisions of the institution and would even consider dismissing its president, Jerome Powell. “total power”: independence institutions called new A legally impossible referral in the absence of serious fault.

In recent history. no American president has accumulated as much power as the billionaire, according to Barbara Perry, because all the others “were subject to the control of their power by the Congress and the Supreme Court, or by fractures within their own political parties”.

Long reserved for academic circles, the concept of “imperial presidency” was made reality by Donald Trump, said Wendy Schiller.

For the political consultant Andrew Koneschusky. a control of the powers of the Republican president could, at the end of the account coming from the ballot boxes, with the legislative elections of mid-term in November 2026.

This former press advisor to Chuck Schumer. the chief of the Democrats in the Senate, notably quotes opinion polls – at half mast for Donald Trump – in order to support his words.

But the fact that the polls. the “total power”: independence institutions called new prospect of elections are the main safeguards of the executive power, “it is not entirely reassuring,” he admits.